Sure! Here’s a classic Southern Fried Chicken recipe that you can try at home:
### Ingredients:
**For the chicken:**
– 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
– 2 cups buttermilk
– 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
**For the breading:**
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/2 cup cornstarch
– 1 tablespoon garlic powder
– 1 tablespoon onion powder
– 1 tablespoon paprika
– 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
– 1 teaspoon black pepper
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
**For frying:**
– Vegetable oil or peanut oil (enough for deep frying)
### Instructions:
1. **Marinate the Chicken:**
– Rinse and pat dry the chicken pieces.
– In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk and hot sauce.
– Add the chicken pieces to the buttermilk mixture, making sure they are fully submerged.
– Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
2. **Prepare the Breading:**
– In a large shallow dish, combine the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, and baking powder. Mix well.
3. **Heat the Oil:**
– In a large, heavy skillet or Dutch oven, pour in enough oil to submerge the chicken pieces.
– Heat the oil over medium-high heat to 350°F (175°C).
4. **Bread the Chicken:**
– Remove the chicken pieces from the buttermilk marinade, allowing the excess to drip off.
– Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing the flour onto the chicken to ensure a thick, even coating. For extra crispy chicken, dip the breaded chicken back into the buttermilk and then dredge it in the flour mixture again.
5. **Fry the Chicken:**
– Carefully place the chicken pieces in the hot oil, skin side down.
– Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 15-18 minutes for large pieces like breasts and thighs, and 10-12 minutes for smaller pieces like wings and drumsticks.
– Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
6. **Drain and Serve:**
– Remove the chicken from the oil and place on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
– Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.
### Tips:
– For an extra layer of flavor, add a teaspoon of dried herbs like thyme, oregano, or rosemary to the flour mixture.
– To keep the fried chicken warm and crispy while you fry the remaining batches, place the cooked chicken on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 200°F (93°C).
Enjoy your homemade Southern Fried Chicken with your favorite sides like coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or cornbread!
